BLOOD DRAGON by Freddie Peters (books to get back into reading .TXT) 📕

him not to shoot the messenger. I’ll make it up to him …” She almost mentioned the evening but thought better of it. It might be a little too risqué although the thought was rather tempting.

“You will be fine … I must go now.” She terminated the call, breathed in deeply and prepared herself. “Showtime … it’s not a court of law … simply the CEO of a biotech company.”

The door opened with minimal sound. Nancy recognised good quality security … strong steel doors with specialist locks, high performance surveillance cameras to scan visitors. The building inside did not contrast with the exterior.

The row of lifts looked sober. There was no receptionist and Nancy gathered most visitors could only ride to the top floor absent a security pass. When the doors of the lift opened, she was proved right. The swipe panel was flashing, prepped for a ride to the top floor.

The scene changed completely when she arrived at reception, cool steel and glass with a colour scheme which matched the company website. A giant version of the Viro-Tech logo, which combined a stylised DNA strand with a woven textile, was installed on the wall above the receptionist’s desk. The young man in black polo neck and jeans contrasted with the polished décor, setting the tone … smart casual with an emphasis on smart.

Nancy stepped into the reception area, walking towards the desk with studied calmness to disguise her interest and a little apprehension.

“Nancy Wu for Oliver Wilson, please.” She forced a reserved yet professional smile.

The young man acknowledged her with courtesy and without the slightest discomfort. He must have been well briefed. Ollie was critically ill in ICU, but it appeared to be business as usual, regardless of what had happened to him.

She walked over to the window and looked outside. The heavy skies had already darkened the day. Inky colours were spreading outside, helping the glass reflect the brightly lit reception area.

A man arrived from within the offices. Dark hair with nascent grey at the temples … jeans and an open necked shirt. Nancy turned around. She was about to meet the CEO of Viro-Tech Therapeutics Ltd.

Her expression was neither expectant nor inquisitive, it was simply business.

“Jared Turner.” The man extended his hand to shake hers. “How do you do?”

Nancy feigned surprise whilst introducing herself.

“I’m sorry that Ollie Wilson will not be able to meet with you.”

Nancy raised a disappointed eyebrow. “What a shame.”

“But perhaps I can be of help.”

“Well …” Nancy hesitated for what she felt was the right amount of time. “Why not?”

Jared Turner gave Nancy a corporate smile and extended his arm sideways, indicating she should follow him towards a part of the building which she surmised contained the meeting rooms. He waved the badge he had removed from his pocket over the security eye and the glass doors opened. He stood aside to let Nancy walk ahead of him.

Alongside the walls that led to the meeting rooms, Nancy recognised a good display of contemporary art. Whoever was doing the buying had a knack for identifying up and coming artists, or perhaps the pieces were simply loaned, through one of the ubiquitous art-for-offices schemes.

They entered a small yet comfortable room. She accepted a cup of coffee from the latest Nespresso machine. Jared Turner chose a coffee as well and settled at the small table in the seat opposite hers.

“I’m sorry about the inconvenience, but unfortunately Ollie has not been well recently.”

“I hope it is not serious.” Nancy steeled herself to sound mildly concerned.

“I’m sure he will be fine.”

Nancy sipped her coffee and waited.

Turner clasped his hands on the table. “But perhaps you could tell me a little about the reason for your visit.”

“Ollie spoke to me about the successful research in virology and vaccines Viro-Tech has undertaken over the past five years. And although I am not a scientist, I understand what the potential of a good outcome would be.”

Turner’s face did not betray any emotion. He was listening carefully, intent on not giving away any information until he was comfortable with the genuine interest of the person in front of him.

“I met Ollie through his partner, the artist Cora Wong.”

Turner nodded, but still remained silent.

“Instead of spending substantial sums of money on contemporary art … which I normally do – incidentally I appreciate the quality of the small collection displayed around your office, including the early Grayson Perry – I decided I was ready to invest in other ventures. Ollie made a strong case for the future of biotechnology.”

“An excellent suggestion. Ollie is right.” Turner finished his coffee. His eyes had not left Nancy for a moment, assessing, weighing up the status and credibility of the person he was talking to.

“Biotech is a good long-term prospect, but investors must be prepared to wait sometimes years for a return … and, of course, to come in at the right level of investment. They have to be able to understand the complexity of the R&D process. It’s not for everyone.”

No sugar coating for the conversation. Nancy wondered whether it was honesty or chauvinism. Would a woman ‘understand’ the nature of what she was getting herself into?

“Certainly. I am not completely ignorant about the world of business or that of patient capital for that matter. I have defended enough multinationals in the criminal courts to understand how the world of investment operates.”

A dark shadow moved over Jared Turner’s eyes. A lawyer of quality was not what he wanted on his company’s premises.

Chapter Sixteen

“The Northumberland Avenue crossing you say?” Pole was on his mobile to Andy. His hand squeezed the phone hard. He had almost shot the messenger but instead taken his jacket and walked out of the building.

What on earth was she playing at? She was not Jane Tennyson … come to think of it, Nancy would have been perfect for a tough female DCI.

The wind blew his tie into his face and he pulled it away to one side with a snap.

Pole crossed